Good Morning, Friends from Press Media,

The State Council Information Office is here today to hold this press conference on the issue of energy, which is a common concern at home and abroad. Many countries, especially USA, have taken the development of the new energy as an important means against the current world-wide financial turndown.

In last March, Chinese National People's Congress approved the establishment of the National Energy Administration. Since the breakout of the world-wide financial turmoil, energy industry has experienced a certain degree of sufferings with demand dropping, investment growth slowing down and outcomes of some enterprise declining.

Under the firm leadership of CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the newly established National Energy Administration, together with all other working staff in energy industry, has been working closely during hard times and has done a lot of work in respect of addressing financial crisis, increasing domestic demand, building up confidence and adjusting industrial structure.

We have made 11-minute short video to reflect what has been done in the energy industry over the last 1 year, from which you will have an understanding of the energy development in the last year. What I will not elaborate further.

At the National People's Congress and the Political Consultative Congress this year, the report made by Premier Wen Jiabao on the Government Work well defines the general planning for the year of 2009, in which the development of energy industry can be summarized as a so-called “Program of One, Two, Three and Four”.

“One” here means that we are going to focus on the 1 main line, that is to fight against the financial crisis and safeguard the steady and relatively fast growth of the economy.

“Two” here means the 2 key points, one is to strengthen the construction of energy infrastructures so that key energy projects will play an important role in respect of expanding domestic demand, securing growth and improving people's welfare; efforts will also be made to accelerate the construction of key energy projects related to large scale nuclear power plants, west to east power transmission, west to east gas transmission, major coal for electricity bases, renewable energy and power grid refurbishment.

The other key point would be to speed up the restructuring of energy industry. The relatively less tense energy supply and demand relationship provides the restructuring initiatives with an unusual strategic opportunity. We are going to take the opportunity to actively develop clean energy, and raise the proportion of nuclear power, hydropower, wind power and other renewable energy in the energy mix, while continuing our effort to shutdown small coal-fired power plants, small coal mines and small oil refineries so as to use energy resources in a more efficient and clean way.

“Three” here means 3 strengthens. The first is to strengthen the administration of energy industry where great attention will be paid to the research, formulation, adjustment and amendment of energy strategy, planning, industrial standards and policies; the initial study in the 12th Five Year Plan for the energy development is going to be started soon. The second is to strengthen the energy-oriented technical innovations. The third is to strengthen international energy cooperation.

“Four” here means the 4 missions. The first is to pay full attention to new energy development. The second is to optimize the utilization of traditional energy with large coal for electricity bases, clean coal unitization projects and large oil refineries are going to be developed; taking measures to solve the major problems with small coal mines, which are small sized, decentralized and operating badly in disorder; continuing the efforts of “Building Large Plant and Shutting down Small Plant”; and clearing off small refineries. The third is to cultivate and develop cross-sector and cross-region energy enterprises where explorations will be implemented so as to establish coal, power, railway and port integrated large scale energy group companies, which are based on energy enterprises while utilizing the chances brought by coal railway constructions. The fourth is to promote the innovation of energy system and mechanism; to continue further energy pricing reform and leverage the relationship between coal and power prices.

National Energy Administration will continue to enhance its operations and improve its work style; stick to administration by law; carry out a scientific and democratic decision-making; promote an open administration; take supervision from the public; perform its duty in a serious manner; face and take the challenges; work harder; be aggressive; and endeavor to make its positive contributions to the steady and relatively fast growth of the economy.

Coming up next my colleague and I myself will be pleased to answer your questions.